I haven't had much luck with antidepressants without the nasty side effects. My doctor prescribed amitriptyline and I was supposed to start it last Wed. I still haven't been able to talk myself into it and it is already Sun. I guess I'm just afraid of how it will make me feel. Sometimes the side effects are worse than what I am already feeling.(if you can believe that cause sometimes it's pretty bad.) Has anyone else tried amytriptyline? Are you okay with it? I keep thinking I can beat this without taking them but each week when I go back to the doctor he says I need to be on something.
I just want to feel better but it is very hard, kind of like the lesser of 2 evils. Which one do you chose. My sick benefits are almost up and I will have to go back to work soon and that scares me. I know it can't be easy for anyone else having to try different medications. How do you get through it?
Any advice on getting rid of this fear would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Lilac:
I've been prescribed Elavil, as it's also known. For me it was in conjuction with other anti-depressants but for its affect on insomnia. The main side effect it gave me was dry mouth, but it really didn't do much good that i could tell otherwise. I know people on this board swear by various meds, but I've had no success with them and have decided to see what help time will bring. I've read that studies are showing that exercise is more helpful than drugs, but I'm all for anyone receiving any relief they can....If a pill worked for me, I'd probably go with it, but I'll have to fight it out myself..Good luck to you and I hope you have a better experience than I did

I know people on this board swear by various meds, but I've had no success with them and have decided to see what help time will bring. I've read that studies are showing that exercise is more helpful than drugs, but I'm all for anyone receiving any relief they can....If a pill worked for me, I'd probably go with it, but I'll have to fight it out myself.

Hi Astroboy,

I also have not had any luck with meds -- plus I just couldn't tolerate the side effects any longer. I'd take one in a second if it actually worked without making me physically sick. How long have you tried going without the meds?

I haven't taken one in weeks and instead am trying natural supplements. I'd love to tell you i'm cured but I'm not. Actually i laughed at a movie the other night and it had been so long since that happened. It must be progress, but very little. I've heard Omega 3 and 6 magnesium and htp5 are all good for you but it's too early. I'm taking an extended time off of work, also.

The side effects were too much of the meds and efficacy too little, unfortunately..

My doctor prescribed amitriptyline a few years ago when I had trouble sleeping due to getting over an illness and other changes that messed up my sleep cycle, and made me unable to sleep at night. It's actually amitriptyline hcl - I honestly don't know if this is the same thing, because I've heard them used interchangeably, but also have seen them listed as two different drugs. I've been using it to sleep ever since (only before bedtime) - my doctor has said that some people just need something to help them sleep, and recommended me staying on it since it's working for me.

I've been in to see him a couple of times since for periods of depression and anxiety -that's the best way I can describe it. I had thought that maybe having a little of the elavil on hand when I go through these times would be good since it helps me to relax. Though, he said that elavil doesn't help much with depression - it is mainly used today to help people sleep. I've heard it referred to as an "old school antidepressant." I am afraid of side effects of antidepressants, but my doctor doesn't think the elavil will be effective to treat what I'm experiencing.